Every healthy relationship needs periodic evaluation in order to remain healthy. The relationship between fellow-preachers is no exception. Without this periodic evaluation, distrust, competition, jealousy, and resentment can result.
In this article, I am going to share a few things I believe preachers owe each other. These qualities come from my observations. Your observations may be different. If so, feel free to share them in the comments section.
What do today’s preachers need from their fellow preachers? They need co-workers who…
- Speak less and listen more.
- Love peace more than conflict.
- Talk to each other more than talk about each other.
- Enjoy honest dialogue more than hurling terse “zingers.”
- Prefer “soft answers” over biting sarcasm.
- Pursue humility more fervently than pride.
- Are quicker to broadcast each other’s success, and slower to broadcast each other’s mistakes.
- Are more interested in reading good news about another’s work than scandalous news.
- By default, believe the best in each other and not the worst.
- Seek self-control more than self-defense.
- Discriminate more and “lump together” less.
- Seek truth more than “winning.”
- Mind their own business more, and the business of others’ less.
- Spend less time on Facebook, and more time with their Face-in-the-Book.
I don’t know anyone who would disagree with the above list, but I do know many of us who may need to be reminded of these truths.
AMEN! Thank you brother. Articles like this are always needed for all of us.
All preachers need to adhere to (1) 1Pet.4:11, #(2) 2Tim. 2:15, #(3) 2Cor.5:17,and 1Cor.1:10: to speak the oracles of God when he speaks; to rightly divide the truth; to be in Christ as a new creature and to all speak the same things, that there be no divisions which come from carnal minds. Thank you for this article.
Buddy Varner
Absolutely! Wonderful advice for everyone as well. Thank you!
Love you, Steve.